Kirbyville used a dominant rushing attack and a withering rushing defense to pull away in the second half and pound Kountze 44-14 in the district 12-3A-I opener for both teams.

The Wildcats sacked Kountze quarterback Dallion Edwards six times to send the Lions in reverse, keying a defensive effort that limited Kountze to 12 rushing yards.

Meanwhile, Kirbyville shook off a scoreless first quarter to ultimately rack up 390 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, with three Wildcat backs gaining more than 60 yards.

"Give Kountze credit that they had a good game plan and gave us some trouble early," said Kirbyville coach Greg Neece.

"We kind of killed ourselves with some turnovers and penalties but with the ups and downs of the game we finally got going," Neece said.

"I've got to give credit to our offensive line and tight ends because they did a great job blocking," Neece said.

TURNING POINT: Kirbyville's leading rusher Ty Dennis fumbled a ball at the Kountze 1-yard line on his way in for an apparent score midway through the second quarter.

That gave Kountze a touchback and preserving Kountze's 6-0 lead it had built courtesy of a 60-yard fumble return for touchdown by Michael Cole.

But just two plays after that good fortune, Kountze fumbled on its own 25.

Two plays later Pat Beaty burst in for a 10-yard touchdown to tie the game.

A two-point conversion gave Kirbyville a lead it would never relinquish.

MOST SPECTACULAR PLAY: On a night when most of Kirbyville's offense came by way of the ground attack, it was a quick screen in the right flat on the second play from scrimmage in the second half that energized the Wildcats.

Jaylan Dennis cut back across the field eluding at least a half dozen Kountze defenders and carted the screen all the way to the left sideline where he turned the corner and raced 45 yards for a touchdown that started turning Kirbyville's 11-6 halftime lead into a rout.

BY THE NUMBERS: Ty Dennis led the Wildcats with 184 yards on 25 carries, including one touchdown.

Beaty added 76 yards and two scores on 10 carries and Darien Ballard went for 61 yards on five carries.